Last weekend (before the cruise) we stayed with my dad and his partner, Jon, in Sherman Oaks, California.

There was one other major player present at this little get together.

My little brother, Carlos.  He’s 4.  We had a great time with everyone and even had a chance to participate in some child-like activities.  Up first…a little coloring.

I love coloring and really believe I should start trying to sell some of my “artwork”.

I also attended Carlos’ piano class.  This was one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen.

It was the weekend before Halloween so the kids dressed up in their costumes.  We forgot about the whole dress-up thing so we ended up saying that Carlos went as male model.  Sweet costume Carlos!  These kids were killing me with their cuteness and I’m pretty sure this girl is what G and my kid would look like:

Piano was pretty fun and they had a lot of tools for the kids to use to keep them occupied for an entire hour.

I loved that pointer-thing!  And Carlos loved posing for pictures.

I think he’s been spending too much time with his Uncle George.

After piano, we went to one of my favorite restaurants for lunch.

If you’re ever in Studio City and you like Japanese food, you should go here.  The food is great and the décor is hilarious.

I love the drawings of food on the walls…and I love that they haven’t changed it at all in the ten+ years since I started going there.

I ordered my favorite, the California Bowl (basically california roll sushi converted to bowl form).

And my dad and Jon and Carlos had curry bowls.

Some serious comfort food.

G spent the day with some of his L.A. friends and we went home to chill out.  It was nice.  We had nachos for dinner and these adorable cones for dessert!

Aren’t they cute?!!  G even had to try one when he got back home.

What an idiot.

Oh and I read one of the best children’s books I’ve ever read while I was there:

You should all go out and get this book.  Seriously, one of the best stories ever and it makes me want to take a trip to the Central Park Zoo to visit the penguins.

G and I are now sitting in the airport waiting for our flight.  I’m so full I should probably walk home…G and I just can’t say no to free food.  We are both waaaaay fatter than we were a week ago.  Success!